It is hardly surprising that the innovators tinkering with 3D printers are completely focused on the future and already fantasizing about what the future holds for 3D printing technology. While there is much talk already about bioprinting, 4D printing and commercial metal 3D printing, the Makerarm team has already reached the point of sharing their vision of the future. Their take on a next-generation 3D printer is an all-purpose manufacturing machine that does away with the XYZ construction concept to create more build space than ever. What’s more, visitors of the upcoming Bay Area Maker Faire (May 16 & 17) can be the first to experience this machine for themselves.

Now little more is known about this machine or its manufacturers than a little preview on theMakerarm website, but that is already enough to get tinkerers every excited. Of course there are already a number of multifunctional manufacturing machines out there in the world, but most typically function as a desktop Cartesian 3D printer with interchangeable heads.

The Makerarm, in contrast, is a complete personal fabrication system packed into a single futuristic tube-like arm capable of 3D printing, plotting, milling, laser engraving, electronics assembly and more. Of course, not all heads are stored within the arm and need to be manually replaced, but the exciting shape will give users more possibilities than ever before. The work area should become something in the range of diameter of 32 inches, while the arm itself can travel to heights of 10 inches. Through the inclusion of an automated bed leveling option, anything can be turned into a print bed.

But aside from 3D printing, the machine is expected to contain numerous fantastic making options that anyone would want on his desktop. The lasercutter, engraver and etcher consists of a 500 mW laser head capable of working with any material, while the miller is promised to be an extremely quick carving machine. The Makerarm will even include a PCB fab/assembly heads to make working with PCBs easier than ever, as well as a series of suction and electromagnetic heads for all your tinkering needs.

If this is the future of 3D printing and making, we can’t wait. But of course previews always try to sell you the moon and we’ll just have to wait and see if it delivers and when it will be released(and what the price will be!). Nonetheless, we do not doubt that the visitors of the Bay Area Maker Fair will be treated to a delicious sneak peak of a very promising machine.

Cute, but SCARA robots work in industrial applications because they have zero-backlash gearboxes. A home-made SCARA will never, ever reach any kind of usable or practical accuracy. I'm tired of seeing people think they're so clever "re-inventing" a geometry or axis setup without actually thinking about what they're doing - just doing it for the sake of being "unique".

Moghasi wrote at 5/7/2015 5:21:44 PM:

A unique company working on 3d printers inside Iran:
http://www.3dparsian.com

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